Great Lakes USA in 2018

There are some great things happening in The Great Lakes USA region in 2018, from the Super Bowl in Minnesota to the opening of the world’s largest loop roller coaster and the 115th anniversary of Harley Davidson:

The president of the American Club, Herbert V. Kohler Jr., is a true visionary, having turned the tiny village of Kohler into an elegant destination, with the American Club placed on the National Register of Historic Places. Kohler own The Old Course Hotel and golf course in St. Andrews and the Whistling Straits golf course in Sheboygan County has been selected to host the 2020 RyderCup.www.americanclubresort.com/golf

Ohio

After the recent $15 million renovation of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, the world famous induction ceremony returns home on April 14, 2018. The attraction will honour the occasion with free admission to the Rock Hall and lots of rock-themed events and activities throughout the city. 2018 nominees include Kate Bush, Nina Simone, Depeche Mode, Dire Straits, The Eurythmics and The Moody Blues. www.rockhall.com

Cedar Point continues its reign as the roller coaster capital of the world, set to debut in 2018 a wood-steel hybrid coaster that will be the tallest of its kind. Called Steel Vengeance, the ride will take adrenaline enthusiasts on a 90-degree vertical drop from 205 feet high, with other unique features like a “Twisted Snake Dive” — essentially a half-barrel roll where riders are extended upside down briefly — and boasting a record-breaking 27.2 seconds of total airtime for riders. www.cedarpoint.com/explore/steel-vengeance

Scottish based brewery, Brewdog, will open the world’s first crowdfunded craft beer hotel attached to a brand new BrewDog sour beer facility in Columbus. The DogHouse will feature amenities like in-room taps, beer spa treatments and craft-beer-themed meals. www.brewdog.com/usa/lowdown/blog/announcing-doghouse-columbus

Illinois

In Spring 2018, Six Flags amusement park in Gurnee will open the world’s largest loop coaster at 100 feet tall! In Spring 2018, Six Flags amusement park in Gurnee will open the world’s largest loop coaster at 100 feet tall! The coaster will give riders record hang-time and 360 degree revolutions, whilst the 32 face-off style seats will allow them to see their fellow riders reactions! www.sixflags.com/greatamerica/attractions/newfor2018

As the birthplace of modern blues, The Chicago Blues Experience, opening in 2019, will celebrate the pioneering artists as well as the generations of musicians who have been influenced by the blues and continue to carry on its traditions. Situated near Millenium Park, it will consist of three levels totalling 50,000-square-feet to be filled with not only history-driven interactive displays, tributes to local legends and Chicago blues memorabilia, but also a performance lounge and restaurant. Chicago Blues Experience.

Minnesota

Major event – Super Bowl LLI on February 04, 2018 with a theme of the “Bold North” with Justin Timberlake performing at half time. There are weekly events leading up to the big event and several other area events will be held leading up to the Super Bowl celebrating winter in Minnesota under the name “Bold North Festival”. These will include the US Pond Hockey Championships, the Saint Paul Winter Carnival, the Minneapolis Loppett cross country ski race and many special concerts and events around the Minneapolis St Paul area. https://www.mnsuperbowl.com/about

Paisley Park will host Celebration 2018 April 19-22, 2018 celebrating the anniversary of Prince’s death for a second year; special concerts and interviews with performers that were part of Prince’s life will feature at Paisley Park and area venues like the Dakota Jazz Club and First Avenue will hold concerts and events during that time; tickets to Celebration 2018 can be purchased at https://officialpaisleypark.com/pages/celebration-2018 , tickets for the other venues will be available at those venues.

A new waterpark hotel opens next to the Mall of America in November 2017, the largest shopping and entertainment complex in the US. An Intercontinental hotel (4 star plus) will open at MSP International Airport in July 2018 and will also offer MOA packages. mallofamerica.com

Michigan

On 26 April 2018, WOW Air will start flying from London to Detroit www.wowair.com

Shinola, the American luxury lifestyle brand, will open its first hotel in Detroit in Autumn 2018 at the corner of Woodward Avenue and Grand River. Detroit’s Wurlitzer Building is midway through a $23 million renovation that will transform the 14-storey, 1926 structure into a 106 room, upscale boutique hotel called The Siren. Starwood Hotels are transforming the Metropolitan Building into an upscale, mixed-use development called the Element Detroit at the MetropolitanBuilding. This adaptive re-use project will include the restoration of the hotel’s exterior and a top-to-bottom renovation of the interior, whilst preserving elements of the original ornate lobby and mezzanine. www.visitdetroit.com

One of Michigan’s most popular tourist attractions, the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park is undergoing a $115 million expansion project. The new areas will increase educational offerings, expand horticulture exhibitions, provide more galleries for sculpture exhibitions and art storage facilities, The project also will add room for guests to move about safely and easily, host more events, and create additional space that is LEED-certified and architecturally significant. It will also add parking capacity and improve vehicle flow on the 158-acre campus and is scheduled to be completed in 2021. www.meijergardens.org

Indiana

May 2018 will mark the 102nd running of the Indy 500, the world’s largest single day sporting event. Over 300,000 people from around the world attend the annual event with Formula 1 driver Fernando Alonso competing in 2017. indianapolismotorspeedway.com/events/indy500/buy-tickets

50th Anniversary of The Three Rivers Festival in Fort Wayne, a family-friendly nine day festival that runs July 13-21 and attracts over half a million visitors each year. http://threeriversfestival.org/

A Sports Legends Experience at The Indianapolis Children’s Museum will open in spring 2018. The entire space will be 7.5 acres—7 acres will be outdoors and ½ an acre indoors. The experience will offer exhibits that encourage physical activity in everyday life and inspire families to become healthier together. Children and adults will be able to immerse themselves in a variety of sports environments from golf to football! Showcasing Indiana’s wealth of amateur and professional athletes and teams, the initiative will offer a collection of fun, hands-on, indoor and outdoor sports-related experiences designed for all ages